The Denison Yellow Jackets came into the game with a chance to clinch not only a playoff spot but the top seed out of District 9-4A in the Division II bracket. Denison has been rolling on offense the past few weeks and trying to close the season strong as the postseason approaches. North is under the direction of Fecci for the first time - he was the Bulldogs' offensive coordinator last season - and was trying to bounce back from a 49-3 loss to cross-town rival McKinney. These teams had previously met five times with Denison winning four, all by blowout. North won in 2005 by six points.

In The Game

Two plays into the game Denison got on the scoreboard with a 47-yard touchdown from Jordan Taylor to Jimmay Mundine. Mundine caught a short pass before weaving his way down the field, avoiding Bulldogs the entire way. North responded with an eight-play drive that stalled outside the red zone and the Bulldogs settled for a field goal attempt. But Bryson Long's 45-yard boot was blocked.

On the first play from scrimmage Taylor picked up a bad snap and squeezed through the line for a 62-yard touchdown down the left sideline for a 14-0 Denison advantage with just over seven minutes left in the first quarter. After going three-and-out North punted and Denison took advantage of a bad call by the refs, who didn't call the punt bouncing off a blocking Jacket's foot and then recovered by the Bulldogs. Denison took over at its eight-yard line and D.J. Jones ripped off a 92-yard touchdown run on the first play with 5:54 left in the quarter.

The Jackets forced another punt, this time from North's end zone, and Taylor had a 22-yard touchdown run for a 28-0 lead with 3:30 left in the quarter. Denison had four touchdowns on only six plays in the first 12 minutes. The next time Denison had the ball was the only time in the first half the Jackets did not score - of course starting at its one-yard line was the main reason.

North got the ball in Denison territory and Long kicked a 32-yard field goal with 7:56 left in the half to put McKinney North on the board. But two plays later Denison answered as Jones took an option pitch right and broke away from a tackle downfield for a 45-yard touchdown.

Brenton Griffin led the Bulldogs' only touchdown drive of the night on the ensuing series, which was capped by a two-yard touchdown run from DeAnte Moore. The next two Denison possessions ended in touchdown passes from Taylor to Mundine - the first from 49 yards away and the second right at midfield - as the Jackets held a 48-10 half-time lead.

Neither team scored in the final 24 minutes. Denison pulled its main starters before the third-quarter kickoff and the backups couldn't find the end zone. The Jacket defense held McKinney North to two yards in the second half and Aaron Morrison finished with five sacks. North did recover a muffed punt by Cody Reeves after its first possession but Reeves intercepted Griffin on the second play of the ensuing drive.

Coaches Corner

Following a somewhat lackluster game against Frisco the previous week, Denison was challenged heading into the game against McKinney North.

"What I told them is that they're going to take it for granted that you can flip the switch," Denison head coach Cody White said. "Because one time you might flip the switch and there won't be any electricity there."

Last Impressions

It was another strong performance by Denison's offense - the third time in the last four games with 48 or more points - and it could have been worse since all the scoring came in the first half. The Jackets showed their quick-strike capability for the first time in a variety of ways, giving opponents even more fits. It might be overstated but this might be one of the better defensive lines around in terms of the pressure they put on quarterbacks. It's not a very big group but they make plays.

Plain and simple, McKinney North gives up too many big plays. When a team has 246 yards on six plays after one quarter, you better have a defense that can go score for score. Smith looks like he could be a real good player in the next few years. Only a sophomore, he's got great speed and shifty moves that will make him the cornerstone of the Bulldogs' offense.